Cougars drop WBL finale to Elida

Thursday, May 08, 2014 12:05 AM

Van Wert’s Mason Carr takes a swing in this file photo. Carr went 2-for-3 in the Cougars loss to Elida on Wednesday. (TB file photo)

By John Parent
Times Bulletin Sports Editor
sports@timesbulletin.com
ELIDA — Van Wert’s baseball team wrapped up Western Buckeye League play with a make-up game at Elida on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs dropped the Cougars by am 11-2 final, moving Van Wert to 9-13 overall and 2-8 in conference play. Elida improves to 9-14 and 2-7 in the WBL.
Van Wert didn’t get much offense, but what they did receive came mostly via center fielder Ryan Stoller. The sophomore wenet 3-for-3 on Wednesday and drove in one of the two Cougar runs. Sean Miller knocked in the other.
Mason Carr scored a run for Van Wert, going 2-for-3 on the day with a stolen base. Tyler Williams, Miller, Joe Lisa and Bryan Mills each had singles for the Cougars.
On the mound, Van Wert gave the ball to Ethan Williams, who was charged with six runs (five earned) on four hits and four walks in three innings of work. He struck in two in the loss.

Williams was followed to the mound by Jacob Braun and Jacob Williamson, the latter made his first varsity pitching appearance of the season, working the final two-thirds of an inning and working around a walk.
“We threw Nate (Stoller) and Brant (Henry) each about 50 pitches (Tuesday) night, so they should be ready to comeback on Saturday,” Van Wert coach Charlie Witten said.
The Cougars host Riverdale in the opening round of sectional play at noon on Saturday.
“Ryan Stoller threw last Saturday, and he wasn’t ready to pitch again,” Witten added. “We’ll have him as a third pitcher, if needed (versus Riverdale), or we’ll wait and use him next week.”
Van Wert plays its final regular-season home game on Thursday, when they host St. Henry. Senior Kevin Agler will take the hill for the Cougars. If Van Wert can advance past Riverdale, they’ll face a rematch with the Redskins next Thursday, this one at St. Henry’s home park.
“When we played in the WBL sectional, it happened a lot that a team would play another team on Tuesday and comeback and play them on Saturday in the sectional,” Witten added. “I’ve even seen it where they’d finish WBL play on Friday against each other and have to play again on Saturday.”
St. Henry is 18-2 overall this year and 6-0 in the Midwest Athletic Conference.